The person who spread gong culture in Ea Kar

Since childhood, Tran Hai Dang has been fascinated by the deep and majestic sound of gongs resonating by the fire. That love grew even stronger when he fell in love with an Ede girl. This opportunity further urged him to learn and study to become more deeply attached to gong culture.

In 2011, after graduating from university, Mr. Dang returned to work in the locality. As Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union of Ea Kar town (old), he had the opportunity to approach and learn more about gongs. Not afraid of hardship, he sought out artisans in all villages to ask for lessons, persistently practicing each gong beat.

Mr. Tran Hai Dang makes ching kram.

During the day, he was busy with youth work, and at night, he diligently practiced with a gong set borrowed from the locals. After more than 8 years of perseverance, from the awkward beats, he had mastered each gong in the gong set and mastered the techniques of the gong beats that often appear in the cultural activities of the Ede people such as: rain-praying ceremonies, new rice celebrations, funerals or traditional dances.

In 2019, Mr. Dang participated in a gong teaching class organized by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Dak Lak in coordination with the Police of Ea Kar district (old). Here, he mobilized 22 young people from 6 villages to join, establishing a gong team that is still active today.

As Secretary of the Ea Kar Town Youth Union (from 2019 to 2024), he continued to advocate and organize classes teaching ching kram playing and traditional dance for 6 gong teams from schools in the area. He also coordinated with the Women's Union of Ea Kar District (old) to open 2 ching kram playing classes for women in M'Briu and Tuong Sinh villages. Up to now, these gong teams are regularly invited to perform in many cultural events of the province.

Mr. Tran Hai Dang teaches ching kram playing techniques to students.

Many gong teams taught by Mr. Dang have won awards at the Dak Lak Gong Culture Festival in 2022, 2023, 2024 and the Ea Kar District Gong Culture Festival in 2023, 2024... Not only stopping at teaching, he also makes ching krams for his students. In 2023, he completed the Ede gong tuning course. With his enthusiasm and knowledge, he has been invited by many localities in the province to teach. He was also invited to be a judge at the Ea Kar District Gong Culture Festival in 2023, 2024.

“Every time I see children practicing with passion, I feel very happy. To me, gongs are not only music, but also the soul and identity of the nation,” Dang shared.

In the flow of integration, people like Mr. Dang are the bridge, bringing gongs closer to the young generation, contributing to preserving and spreading the cultural soul of the Central Highlands today and tomorrow.

Mr. Dung

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/van-hoa-du-lich-van-hoc-nghe-thuat/202509/nguoi-lan-toa-van-hoa-cong-chieng-o-ea-kar-e680ff3/